The worst part of winter is feeling cooped up, at least it seems that's what my horses think. They have almost 15 acres of pasture to roam all day every day and they are bored to tears of it.
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| Are we going to do something interesting today? |
Without enough daylight to play with them during the week, and the last two weekends being bitter cold I really haven't done much with my Quarters lately. Last weekend they told me they'd like some more to do, thanks. You see on that beautiful 7F degree day, they decided that after they ate - while I was filling hay bags - they were going to go exploring. Cue me spending the next twenty minutes in the freezing cold chasing them around the fields at a fast walk while they took a looksie around the joint. Rotten beasties.
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| Gwen sporting her new marehawk, I kind of like this look |
Fortunately, today the temps rose above 30F (gasp, heatwave) so I haltered them up and we went for a walk. It was cold, and a bit windy, but the sun was out and the skies were blue. For January, it was a beautiful day.
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| Coriander would like to know if my plans include food |
So we went into the back fields, and it was such a nice day that I decided to sneak into the neighbor's back field (Coriander's favorite place) and let them graze a bit. As soon as he realized where we were heading he took off at a trot up the hill, eyes keenly trained for the little deer trail across the hedgerow. Have I mentioned that field is his favorite place?
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| Gwen made this eating dinner |
There's nothing like spending some time with your horses in the snow to help you appreciate their cold weather adaptations: their hooves, totally impervious to the fetlock deep snow; and their clever lips, dusting the snow off the tender shoots of grass closer to the ground. If it weren't for how poorly I'm adapted to the cold, I'd probably still be out there with them now.
Someday, when I'm much older and much grayer, this is the kind of day I'm going to remember - companionably sharing time and space with my horses on a beautiful day. It doesn't get much better than that.
The weekend was beautiful here, too! Snowy, but sunny! Great minds must think alike, I took Shy for a walk, too! She loves it out there! And I love watching those lips clear a patch of snow to get to grass. So cute!
ReplyDeleteYour horses look so pretty in the snow :)
Oh nice, I'm glad you were able to enjoy it too :)
DeleteThank you for complimenting my babies, the extra trace minerals have done wonderful things for their winter coats.
Love the photo header and yes, days like this are wonderful. :)
ReplyDeleteWe've had snow and cold here too. They are bored to death. I didn't get out for a walk with them. I am old and gray and didn't feel like a walk in the snow. I'm glad you got to play with them and had such a good time. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to spend time with your horses. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun time. Gwen's footie print is perfectly round. :)
DeleteToo cold here to ride, but I went out to the barn and hung out with my guy. It was wonderful. Love that picture of Gwen's foot print. She has pretty tootsies!
ReplyDeleteI went for a walk in the woods on Harley yesterday. Even thought it was cold and my toes froze, he seemed very pleased to be out and about. Winter is painfully boring.
ReplyDeleteI love your new header!
Thanks everybody! I'm pretty happy with the new header too- they both look so RED, I love it!
ReplyDeleteTo everyone else who is stuck in the same place I am- winter is half over. Spring and play time are just around the corner :)
I'll just ignore that the Farmer's Almanac is predicting a bitterly cold, snowy February...